"On Tuesday, in Cape Town, South Africa, Endiama signed a mining investment contract for prospecting, exploration and marketing of diamonds with the company N'Dumba, Ltd, a subsidiary of the Jean Boulle Group," Endiama reported in a statement to which VerAngola had access.
According to the diamond company, the document "establishes the creation of a joint venture, responsible for exploration and mining activities of alluvial deposits within the concession limits."
The contract reinforces the country's commitment "to attract strategic investments to the mining sector, consolidating its position as one of the world's leading diamond producers."
On the occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Directors (PCA) of Endiama, Ganga Júnior, explained that the contract is the result of the restructuring of the former concession in the Luó area.
"This project, which we call N'Dumba, is the result of the restructuring process of the former concession in the Luó area, specifically the restructuring that was formerly called Sociedade Mineira Camatchia-Camagico. The concession has already been terminated due to the impossibility of continuing activities (...)", he said.
According to Ganga Júnior, a new concession area has been defined: "We are not interfering in the previous work areas, specifically the kimberlites of Camatchinga and Camagico. We have defined a new concession area, we have also defined the scope of the contract, which basically consists of continuing a set of works from the past".
Quoted in the statement, the CEO of the diamond company also said that the area has approximately 10 kimberlites, and that "Endiama has already worked in around four".
"As this is an activity that will still require significant investment, we found a partner with a mining tradition and financial capacity to work with us to complete the work on those four kimberlites (...), as well as to continue with the alluvial activities and the other six kimberlites that also exist", he added.
As for the next steps after the signing of the contract, he said he believes that "it will be approved next week", so that work can then begin on mobilising resources on the ground to begin geological and mining research activities.
"The N'Dumba concession, located in the province of Lunda Norte, covers an area of 222 square kilometres and includes kimberlite and alluvial deposits", the Endiama statement also states.
The contract signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, and the Angolan ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, Rui Xavier.
